Shattered

By Shannon (AKA KittyShan, LancesKitten)

Originally Published 10/20/2015

Disclaimers: Voltron and all associated characters are owned and copyrighted by WEP. Original/new characters belong to the author.

Author's Notes:

Thank yous - Please let me say thank you to my beta-reader. Lynne is one of the most generous and kind-hearted people I have ever known. She is a magnificent writer, and I am always left in awe of her talents! But, more than that, she is one of my dearest friends and has been for many, many (many) years now. Together, we have laughed and cried, watched our children grow, celebrated our triumphs, lamented our follies. Without her encouragement and support, I wouldn't have started writing fan fiction again, and in fact I may have given up writing all together.

So, Lynne, thank you - for all that and more! Your honest insights are brilliant and always spot-on. I mean it when I say, you make me a better writer.

I also want to say a huge thank you to my heart-sister, Adiel. You were so helpful in pointing out those places where I had just zipped along and jumped ahead of myself, leaving the reader to say, "wait, what?!" As well as having hawk-eyes and spotting those typos I tend to overlook!

Be Advised - I believe our experiences - both good and bad - are what mold us into unique individuals. Violence, sex, foul language, death - these things are all part of life. They're also some of the things that have an immense impact on us and how we cope. Sometimes we must examine the things that make us uncomfortable in order to wholly understand not just the characters and their stories, but ourselves. That's what I have tried to do here.

Spoiler Alert - If you've never seen Voltron: Defender of the Universe, there are spoilers up ahead! When I write fanfics, I try to grab bits and pieces from the original series and plop them into my story lines - I think it gives perspective with regard to the time line, as well as to delve a little deeper into the characters and their psyches.

Rating: M Violence, Sexual Situations

Chapter 1

She sat with her knees hugged to her chest, the icy cold of the stone floors seeping into her bones. Taking a deep breath, she laid her head down on her crossed arms, long blonde locks brushing the filth that littered the floor.

Her eyes were shut tightly, as if somehow not seeing would make the horror of her situation melt away.

She had no idea how long she'd been here, in this dungeon, deep below Castle Doom. The days and nights had started running together a long time ago and it seemed every minute that crept by stole a bit more of her hope. If the other women hadn't needed her, if they didn't continue to look to her for leadership, for hope, she would have given up already - she would have found a way to end her life and this abuse.

As she rested her bruised and battered body, her mind continued to race... Why hadn't anyone come searching for her... did anyone even realize she was missing... shouldn't someone have come by now...?

Most of her family was dead; murdered by those monsters now keeping her prisoner. In an attempt to prevent the Forces of Doom from enslaving his people, her father, King Kova, had struck an agreement with King Zarkon. Pollux had a space cannon with the ability of destroying a planet completely; in order for her home world to remain free, King Zarkon would be allowed to use that monstrous weapon to annihilate Planet Arus. In addition, her eldest brother, Prince Avok, had agreed to be turned into a robeast so that he could destroy Voltron.

When those plans went awry, her father had quickly found that he had, indeed, made a deal with the devil. Zarkon gave the command to execute the Polluxian Royal Family along with their entire court. With Avok, now turned into a robeast and attacking Voltron, the giant robot's pilots had no choice but to defend themselves - resulting in the Polluxian Prince's death.

She still couldn't believe Avok was gone... He had only been a year older than she, and growing up in a dark and lonely castle, unable to play with the other children because of their stations, the two siblings had been inseparable. From early childhood, they had been the best of friends, relying on one another for everything. Everything except Avok's final decision. She had argued with him in an attempt to get him to see how foolish it would be to become a robeast. But her brother had been so stubborn; so determined to prove himself, and in the end it had cost him his life.

Her heart ached, but she had to let him go... She had to think of the brother she hoped was still alive - Bandor.

After witnessing their father's brutal assassination, she and her younger brother, Prince Bandor, had made a run for it, trying to steal an airship so they could make their escape. But, they too, were thwarted when Prince Lotor intercepted them and they were forced into his custody. Her only comfort was that as Lotor's ship had begun to lift off, she had shoved Bandor from the open door and ordered him to run...

Her greatest prayer was for her baby brother... she hoped he had found sanctuary, perhaps he had found help... The Voltron Force-

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of someone moving close, and the smell of hot broth and bread.

"Princess...? Princess, please, you must eat."

Romelle opened her midnight blue eyes and smiled weakly at her maid. The poor thing was no more than a girl, maybe sixteen years old at most. "Thank you, Darla. Why don't we share it?"

Darla bowed her head, her once lustrous brown locks now greasy and lank. "You must keep up your strength, your majesty."

They had started as a group of nine, now only four were left. Princess Romelle looked over the girl's head at the other two women who still remained alive. They huddled together under a scrap of material that was supposed to be a blanket, and returned Romelle's gaze. Their haunted eyes let her know without doubt, if she gave up, they were lost.

"Your majesty," Darla insisted, forcing the bowl into Romelle's hand. "When we are freed and return home, you will become the crowned Queen of Planet Pollux. You must be fit to lead our people. Eat."

Romelle looked down into the bowl of broth and watched as a tear slipped down her cheek and splashed into the liquid. She took a steadying breath, "Of course. You're right. And when we return home I will need all of you more than ever, so you, too, must eat and keep up your strength."

Her words had the desired affect and soon they were all feeling a little less hungry, and a little less cold as Romelle huddled them all together to sleep, hoping that shared body heat would help them survive the biting cold of another night on Planet Doom.

: )

: )

"Hagar! Attend me!" Lotor, better known as the Crown Prince of Doom, boomed as he stormed into the laboratory where the evil old witch practiced her most wicked ways. He looked around, his reptilian like eyes glowing almost orange, instead of their usual gold, in the odd lighting. He slowed his gait, wary of what hazard could be lurking around any corner in this wretched room.

"Where are you, you old bag?" He mumbled, scanning the chamber, almost hoping that he wouldn't find her.

The cackling voice came from behind him, making his blue skin crawl.

"You bellowed, My Prince?"

He turned to face Hagar, careful to wipe any discomfort from his features. "Yes, I called you, Witch."

Hagar dipped her head in an attempt to look as if she were his supplicant; in reality she did so to hide her wicked smile. It really did bring her the greatest pleasure, unnerving the arrogant Prince. She reached out a hand and placed it on his arm, her scaly green and brown skin abrading his smooth blue flesh. She raised her yellow eyes to his and smiled, her snake like fangs scraping her lower lip. "How may I serve you, young master?"

He jerked his arm away and sneered at her. He really didn't understand his father's obsession with the ugly old witch... and no matter how he tried, he couldn't believe the stories that she had once been one of the most beautiful women in all the universe! He returned his attention to the matter at hand.

"I want to know what's going on with my newest robeast."

"You must be patient, My Prince," she pointed toward a fluid filled cylinder. "He isn't like the others..."

"No, he isn't." Lotor snorted as a smile spread over his cold, handsome features. Patience wasn't his strong suit, but as he considered the man suspended in some sort of blue gel, he knew this was one thing he could wait for. He looked over the male specimen - well above six feet, muscular but slim, black hair and pale skin... He couldn't remember the color of his eyes, but details like that were meaningless to him. The most important thing was this man was a true warrior, willing to give his life for his cause.

Hagar's cackling voice broke into his thoughts.

"Do not forget, the more he wants to become a robeast, the mightier and more vicious he will become!"

"And he will need to be both to put an end to the Voltron Force for good. There will be no way those idiots will have the strength to destroy him."

"Of course you are right, Prince. But you must allow me the time to wipe away his memories, or he may refuse to fight against Voltron."

Lotor studied the man for a moment longer before looking down at the witch. It really was a brilliant plan. Once the human's body was healed from the poison Hagar had infected him with, they could begin brainwashing him into thinking he was a warrior for the Forces of Doom. He looked back at the man, studied him for a moment... these humans all looked the same to him.

"What was his name again, Witch?"

"Sven."

"Yes, Sven." Lotor turned and started toward the door. "Won't his friends be surprised to know Sven is still alive and well. And ready to kill them all."